quote: NEW YORK -- There's a real president, a fictional president on THE WEST WING, so why not a presidential candidate chosen by television viewers?
That's what the FX hopes to produce. The cable channel announced on Friday the start of a series, AMERICAN CANDIDATE, designed to pick a TV-endorsed potential president.
"We think it's a marriage of a tried-and-true concept, as shown by AMERICAN IDOL, with a down-home political spin to it," said Peter Liguori, FX president. "We are a nation where, quote-unquote, anybody can become president, and this is a concept that gives everyday folks a forum to express their point of view and have people respond to it."
R.J. Cutler, the filmmaker who made THE WAR ROOM, a documentary on the 1992 Clinton campaign, is producing the project with Jay Roach, director of the "Austin Powers" movies.
The series will begin in early 2004 and culminate around July 4 with a live show at The Mall in Washington, D.C., where viewers will choose their favorite candidate for president.
FX has no idea whether the winner will then actually run for president.
"We're just out to make a good, entertaining TV show," Liguori said.
Applications will be accepted from natural-born U.S. citizens who will be 35 years old by January 20, 2005. The candidates must produce a petition signed by 50 supporters.
A panel of experts will choose 100 semifinalists, two from each state, who will be introduced to viewers in the series' first episode.
Episodes will be broadcast live from locations like Mount Rushmore, Gettysburg and the Statue of Liberty, where the candidates will compete with such things as debates and stump speeches. Viewers will gradually eliminate candidates.
Liguori said FX is not trying to trivialize the process of becoming president by starting the series. "That's the last thing we want to do," he said. "The hope here is that this is straightforward Americana. Anyone can grow up to be president. We're just giving them a forum to do that." (As reported by the Associated Press)
Here's your big chance. First American Idol President, then a smooth transition to Dictator for life. I'm sure we can pull this off slicker then the Bush people, who have screwed thing up for themselves!
-------------------- Sparky:: Think! Question Authority, Authoritatively. “Believe nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see.” EMSparks
Shalamar: To save face, keep lower half shut.
Registered: Jun 1999
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I'm normally a calm person, slow to anger and quick to forgive, as level-headed as a Zen Master ... But THIS? What the fuck is wrong with this country? How can anybody be so far off track? Why not just take our constitution out into the street and take a flaming shit on it in front of some brownie hocking girl scout troop?
Do you understand what kind of weirdness we're going to see here? Mark my words, whether the "elected" canidate runs or not, he/she will have only won because the rest of the potential canidates were drunk, hedonist sloth-minds, barely better than a child molester.
I'll admit I am prejudging the piss out of this show, but the fact that they are blatantly using AMERICAN IDOL as a blueprint gives me true Fear and Loathing. The bankruptcy of our culture sends chills down my spine.
Registered: Jan 2001
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Cartman
just made by the Presbyterian Church
Member # 256
posted
I am eager to find out what "culture" that would be.
Registered: Nov 1999
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quote:Originally posted by Free ThoughtCrime America: Alright, so i didn't click that link. Big deal. Bullshit deserves to be doubly exposed for what it is.
IRONIC TWIST!
-------------------- "I was surprised by the matter-of-factness of Kafka's narration, and the subtle humor present as a result." (Sizer 2005)
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
I am also failing to see exactly why this is causing such anger and hatred. It's not as if it's legal or anything. It's entertaining and will get discussions going. In short, it's TV.
-------------------- Yes, you're despicable, and... and picable... and... and you're definitely, definitely despicable. How a person can get so despicable in one lifetime is beyond me. It isn't as though I haven't met a lot of people. Goodness knows it isn't that. It isn't just that... it isn't... it's... it's despicable.
Registered: Mar 1999
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-------------------- "You are a terrible human, Ritten." Magnus "Urgh, you are a sick sick person..." Austin Powers A leek too, pretty much a negi.....
Registered: Sep 2000
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